Washington (CNN) – House Speaker John Boehner sat at his desk in the U.S. Capitol and attempted to enroll in Obamacare on Thursday afternoon, but was unable to log on, and called his experience "pretty frustrating."

Boehner's office sent out an update that, four hours after he tried to enroll, the Speaker received an email from DC Health Link confirming he had been enrolled.

"The Speaker got a confirmation email about 45 minutes after that blog-post went out. Quite a coincidence," Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said.

In a release from Boehner's office detailing his "first person account," the Speaker logged onto the Washington DC health care exchange, where members of Congress and their staffs are directed to enroll for their new health care plans.

A picture that accompanied the release shows a screenshot of the DC exchange with the message "internal server error."

"Despite multiple attempts, I was unable to get past that point and sign up for a health plan. We've got a call into the help desk. Guess I'll just have to keep trying…" Boehner's original account continues, with another picture of Boehner sitting at his desk looking at his computer.

soundoff(39 Responses)

Does a senator get health insurance from the congress or they have to buy on their own

November 22, 2013 12:28 am at 12:28 am |

cbp

Sometimes we need to try more than once to get through to varying websites on the computer. I do hope that the Speaker received a good deal on his insurance because all of pay a portion of his premiums. I hope each member of Congress will remember who pays their salaries and who pays for their office space, trips to their home states, the salaries of the aides who work with them, the franking privileges they can us to send out mailings, etc. It would be nice to see Congress working together for the good of the nation. Watching that happen would be a nice thank hou gift.

November 22, 2013 12:43 am at 12:43 am |

Getoverit

Funny, the article never mentions that he was successful like the headline leads you to believe.

November 22, 2013 12:46 am at 12:46 am |

Wastatejack

So, he who doesn't need the insurance, registers himself in a system he doesn't need, knowing that the system is working through the bugs in it and someone who might really need the system has to wait for him to furnish. Mr. Speaker, engage brain before engaging the clutch.

November 22, 2013 01:05 am at 1:05 am |

gorgegirl

Come on. The guy is just doing a photo op. He doesn't even know how to type. Look at his hands/fingers and that is a definite "hunt and peck typist".

November 22, 2013 02:37 am at 2:37 am |

Josh

Does this mean that Boehner has decided to forego the employer contribution to his healthcare plan in order to get a private health insurance plan on the market? That's a nice move, saving us tax-payers money on his health plan – but could be a surprise if this was all just for a bit of press...

November 22, 2013 03:37 am at 3:37 am |

BDR

Members of Congress and their staffs do have to enroll,and the wait times are getting progressively shorter.
One by one Republican squawking points are being dismissed as the POTUS makes good on his promises and soon despite all the odds guantanamo will be closed.

November 22, 2013 04:17 am at 4:17 am |

Graeme from Ottawa

showman ship of the worst kind, wait a few weeks, the site will be fine, move on GOP

November 22, 2013 04:47 am at 4:47 am |

king

i hope you will stop crying boehner you've finally got obamacare.

November 22, 2013 06:46 am at 6:46 am |

joe mccurdy sr

Although Obamacare is a complete disaster I think this story is just the speaker showboating , He has a Cadillac plan already funded by us.....why does he need to sign up ?

November 22, 2013 07:03 am at 7:03 am |

Anonymous

So, does this mean Boehner is computer illiterate? Why was the "Help Desk" called and WHAT did they respond with that "allowed" him to get past any barriers he had? Was this a Healthcare.gov problem or a Boehner-dumber-than-a-plug-with-a-political-agenda problem? This SHOULD have been covered in this "Let's bash Obamacare a-GAIN" article.

November 22, 2013 07:09 am at 7:09 am |

Fair is Fair

So, does this mean Boehner is computer illiterate? Why was the "Help Desk" called and WHAT did they respond with that "allowed" him to get past any barriers he had? Was this a Healthcare.gov problem or a Boehner-dumber-than-a-plug-with-a-political-agenda problem? This SHOULD have been covered in this "Let's bash Obamacare a-GAIN" article.

November 22, 2013 07:09 am at 7:09 am |

DENNA

So the website, while slow, does work. This is what the GOP was afraid of. We desperately need healthcare reform in this country. No one should be forced into bankruptcy just because they have the bad luck to get seriously ill. If GOP supporters would get past their racial dislike of the president, they would realize that the Affordable Care Act is good for everyone.